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Genetic Variation
The amount of genetic variation is a catalyst for the occurrence of evolution. Sir Ronald A. Fisher showed that the rate of evolution in a population could be limited by the variability of genetics in that population. Thus this principle was known as the Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection.
In one study, indigenous flies from New Guinea and Australia were collected and cross-bred. The mixed population had greater genetic variation and to force rapid evolutionary change, the researchers created intense competition for food and space. The result was that a greater amount of genetic variation caused a faster rate of evolution as compared to the two controls.
